High pressure processing apparatus and high pressure processing method

ABSTRACT

A high-pressure processing apparatus includes a processing vessel including a processing chamber formed therein to perform a certain process onto an object in the processing chamber; fluid feeding means which feeds a high-pressure fluid into the processing chamber; fluid discharging means which discharges the high-pressure fluid from the processing chamber; an agitating unit which is arranged in the processing chamber and is operative to flow the high-pressure fluid over the object by relative rotation to the processing vessel; a communicating channel which is formed in the processing vessel to communicate inside and outside of the processing chamber; a rotary driving member which is coupled to the agitating unit via a shaft portion provided in the communicating channel; and a sealing portion which is provided between the shaft portion and the processing vessel to disconnect the processing chamber from the rotary driving member. The fluid discharging means includes a fluid discharging port formed in a certain position of the communicating channel closer to the processing chamber than the sealing portion to discharge the high-pressure fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and method for performinga predetermined process to samples (objects to be treated) having amicrostructure such as semiconductor substrates and micromachines, andparticularly to a processing apparatus and a processing method forperforming a processing with use of a high-pressure fluid such assupercritical fluid, subcritical fluid or liquefied gas.

[0002] Recently, large-scaled integrated circuits have been formed onsemiconductor substrates. As the integrated circuits have been formed ata larger scale, the line width of a circuit pattern to be formed on asemiconductor wafer has decreased to the order of submicron. As the linewidth is narrowed, capillary force is acted on the gas-liquid interfaceof the substrate wafer when the semiconductor wafer is dried under anatmospheric pressure after washing with a chemical. As a result, it ishighly likely that the size of the pores and grooves in thesemiconductor wafer may be reduced or cracks may be generated on thewafer surface.

[0003] A supercritical drying process has been proposed to eliminate theabove drawbacks resulting from capillary force. The supercritical dryingprocess is a process of drying semiconductor wafers with use of asupercritical fluid, namely, a fluid which has a property of asubstantially interim state between gas phase and liquid phase and whosedensity is close to that of liquid and whose diffusion coefficient andviscosity are close to those of gas by allowing a material (fluid) toexceed a critical point (critical temperature, critical pressure)inherent to the material. The supercritical drying process is free fromgeneration of gas-liquid interface, and accordingly, semiconductorwafers can be dried without causing size reduction of the pores andgrooves or generating cracks, which may result collapse ofmicrostructures around the grooves. Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. HEI 11-87306 discloses an exemplified supercriticaldrying apparatus with use of a supercritical fluid. Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No. HEI 10-125644 discloses a method for removingresidual matters from the semiconductor substrate surfaces with use of asupercritical fluid (supercritical carbon dioxide). Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No. SHO 60-192333 discloses a method for removingresist with use of a supercritical fluid or liquefied gas.

[0004] In a physically strict sense, there is no boundary region in asupercritical region. For instance, there is a high-pressure fluidexhibiting generally the same property as a supercritical fluid even ata temperature lower than a critical point. Such a fluid is called as asubcritical fluid. The subcritical fluid can be used in a predeterminedprocess to eliminate the drawbacks resulting from capillary stress inthe similar manner as a supercritical fluid.

[0005] Allowing a supercritical fluid or the like to flow (agitating afluid) is effective in performing an efficient and uniform dryingprocess onto substrates such as semiconductor wafers in a drying processwith use of a supercritical fluid or the like. In view of this, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11-87306 discloses an agitatingapparatus equipped with an agitating rotary mechanism having anagitating wing to agitate a fluid in a pressure vessel (processingchamber), and a substrate rotary mechanism for rotating a substrate inthe pressure vessel.

[0006] The drying apparatus equipped with the agitating apparatusenables to perform an efficient and uniform drying process onto asubstrate, but may likely to cause contamination of the substrate due toadhesion of particles and the like. It is a general practice in thedrying apparatus equipped with the agitating apparatus to provide apower source (e.g. motor) outside of the pressure vessel for driving theagitating apparatus so as to transmit a driving force of the powersource to the interior of the vessel via a rotary shaft that has beensealed against a high pressure. In such an arrangement, dusts(particles) may be generated in the sealed portion of the rotary shaftdue to abrasion of the rotary shaft, which may likely to intrude intothe vessel. There is an idea of providing a power source inside apressure vessel to omit the sealed portion of the rotary shaft. In sucha case, a rotary portion of the agitating wing and many of the partswhich may likely to cause metal contamination are arranged inside thepressure vessel, thus resulting in contamination of substrates.

[0007] As mentioned above, none of the above techniques is satisfactoryin production of semiconductor substrates and the like which requiresstrict control on preventing contamination of the substrates withparticles and other foreign matters. There has been a demand for anapparatus and method which can solve the above drawbacks.

[0008] There is another idea of implementing a series of processes froma chemical treating process to a drying process in a high-pressurevessel (chamber) in the aforementioned supercritical processingapparatus (high-pressure processing apparatus). According to thistechnique, a substrate is transported to a pressure vessel of thesupercritical processing apparatus, treated with a variety of chemicalsby being supplied with the chemicals one after another, and dried by asupercritical fluid.

[0009] In the above apparatus, the pressure vessel and pipes connectedthereto are generally made of a metallic material in light of the factthat a high-pressure fluid (supercritical fluid) is used. Some of thechemicals used in the chemical treatment have a property of corroding ametal. Accordingly, there should be considered a problem relating tocorrosion, e.g., a problem that particles and the like may be generated.

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. SHO 64-45125 discloses an idea of coating the partswhich is likely to be corroded with a corrosion-resistive agent (made ofe.g. quartz or fluoroethylene resin), and Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. SHO 63-221803 discloses an idea of applying acorrosion-resistive lining.

[0011] It is necessary to apply the corrosion-resistive agent to thepipes connected to the pressure vessel as well as to the pressure vessel(processing chamber). However, it is technically difficult to apply acorrosion-resistive agent to the pipes having a small diameter and along length. Also, some of the corrosion-resistive agents have inferiordurability in high-pressure use. Accordingly, use of such agents havinginferior durability is practically infeasible.

[0012] In view of the above, there has been a demand for solving theproblems relating to corrosion in the supercritical processingapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to providea high-pressure processing apparatus and a high-pressure processingmethod that have solved the above problems residing in the prior art.

[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, the high-pressureprocessing apparatus includes: a processing vessel including aprocessing chamber formed therein to perform a certain process onto anobject in the processing chamber; fluid feeding means which feeds ahigh-pressure fluid into the processing chamber; fluid discharging meanswhich discharges the high-pressure fluid from the processing chamber; anagitating unit which is arranged in the processing chamber and isoperative to flow the high-pressure fluid over the object by relativerotation to the processing vessel; a communicating channel which isformed in the processing vessel to communicate inside and outside of theprocessing chamber; a rotary driving member which is coupled to theagitating unit via a shaft portion provided in the communicating channeland a sealing portion which is provided between the shaft portion andthe processing vessel to disconnect the processing chamber from therotary driving member. The fluid discharging means includes a fluiddischarging port formed in a certain position of the communicatingchannel closer to the processing chamber than the sealing portion todischarge the high-pressure fluid.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the high-pressureprocessing apparatus includes: a processing vessel including aprocessing chamber formed therein; a support member which supports anobject loaded in the processing chamber thereon; fluidfeeding/discharging means which feeds and discharges a high-pressurefluid in and out of the processing chamber; a communicating channelwhich is formed in the processing vessel to communicate with theprocessing chamber; a valve structural member which is operativelysupported to the processing vessel in the communicating channel toopenably close the communicating channel; and a piping member which iscommunicated and connected to the communicating channel for feedingand/or discharging a corrosive fluid in and out of the processingchamber. The corrosive fluid is different from the high-pressure fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a high-pressure processingapparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing essential parts of a pressurevessel;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a high-pressure processingapparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing essential parts of a pressurevessel;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a high-pressure processingapparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing essential parts of a pressurevessel;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a high-pressure processingapparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing essential parts of a pressurevessel;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing essential parts of ahigh-pressure processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0025]FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing essential parts of ahigh-pressure processing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0026]FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing essential parts of ahigh-pressure processing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment ofthe invention; and

[0027]FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing essential parts of ahigh-pressure processing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment ofthe invention.

[0028] The rotary driving member 6 includes an electric motor or a fluidmotor, and is provided outside of the processing chamber 2 in adisconnected state from the interior of the processing chamber 2.Specifically, a communicating channel 11 communicating with inside andoutside of the processing chamber 2 is formed in the pressure vessel 1,and the shaft portion 5 is inserted in the communicating channel 11.Mounting a shaft seal portion 7 at a certain part of the shaft portion 5to seal the shaft portion 5 and a wall surface of the communicatingchannel 11 in contact therewith enables to disconnect the rotary drivingmember 6 from the processing chamber 2. In other words, isolating therotary driving member 6 from the processing chamber 2 enables to preventcontamination of the object 3 (metal contamination due to intrusion ofmetallic particles by abrasion) as the rotary driving member 6 isrotated.

[0029] Fluid feeding means 8 and fluid discharging means 9 forrespectively feeding and discharging a high-pressure fluid (gas, liquid,subcritical fluid, supercritical fluid) are connected to the processingchamber 2. In this embodiment, supercritical carbon dioxide is feedableand dischargeable as a high-pressure fluid.

[0030] The fluid feeding means 8 includes a fluid feeding port 8A formedin the pressure vessel 1, and a fluid feeding line 8B provided with acylinder, pipe, and valve, etc., which is communicated and connected tothe fluid feeding port 8A. The fluid feeding port 8A is communicated toa through-hole of a boss portion 10A of an atmosphere controlling member10 provided in a central part on a top part of the atmospherecontrolling member 10. With this arrangement, supercritical carbondioxide is fed to the middle part on the upper part of the processingchamber 2 by way of the controlling member 10.

[0031] The fluid discharging means 9 includes a fluid discharging port9A formed

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033]FIGS. 1 and 2 are sectional views each schematically showing ahigh-pressure processing apparatus as a first embodiment according tothe invention. As shown in these drawings, a pressure vessel (processingvessel) 1 is internally formed with a processing chamber 2. A rotatablesupport member 4 is accommodated in the processing chamber 2 to load anobject 3 to be treated such as a semiconductor substrate (wafer)thereon.

[0034] The object 3 is loadable and unloadable to and from theprocessing chamber 2 by transporting means (not shown) such as ahandling robot. In view of this, the pressure vessel 1 has a two-partsunit consisting of a vessel main body and a lid member, or an uppermember and a lower member to openably close the processing chamber 2.Alternatively, a window is formed in a trunk part or other part of thepressure vessel 1 through which the object 3 is insertable, and isopenably closed by a door or its equivalent. The processing chamber 2has such a construction that a pressure in the range from 70 to 200kgf·f/cm² (from about 7 to about 20 MPa) can be kept in a drying processby sealably closing the processing chamber 2.

[0035] The support member 4 (agitating unit) is provided in theprocessing chamber 2 to be rotatable (to be capable of agitating) by wayof a shaft portion 5 coupled to a rotary driving member 6. The supportmember 4 is rotatable by driving the rotary driving member 6. in anappropriate position of the communicating channel 11, and a fluiddischarging line 9B provided with a cylinder, pump, valve, etc., whichis communicated to the fluid discharging port 9A. The fluid dischargingport 9A is formed at a position closer to the processing chamber 2 thanthe shaft seal portion 7, and is constructed in such a manner that thesupercritical carbon dioxide fed into the processing chamber 2 isdischarged through the fluid discharging port 9A by way of thecommunicating channel 11.

[0036] Next, processing operations of the high-pressure processingapparatus having the above construction are described.

[0037] In the high-pressure processing apparatus, first, an object 3 istransported to the processing chamber 2 of the pressure vessel 1 by thetransporting means such as a handling robot, and is loaded on thesupport member 4. Then, the processing chamber 2 is sealably closed, andthereafter, supercritical carbon dioxide is supplied to the processingchamber 2 by the fluid feeding means 8 to perform a predeterminedprocess (washing, drying, developing) onto the object 3. At this time,part of the supercritical carbon dioxide is discharged outside of theprocessing chamber 2 through the fluid discharging port 9A, therebymaintaining the pressure inside the processing chamber 2 at a constantpressure suitable for the processing.

[0038] In the processing, the support member 4 is rotated at a rotatingspeed in the range e.g. from 50 to 1000 rpm by actuation of the rotarydriving member 6. Thereby, the supercritical carbon dioxide iseffectively allowed to flow onto the object 3 to perform uniformprocessing (washing, drying, developing).

[0039] As the support member 4 is rotated, particles may be generatedaround the shaft seal portion 7 or its vicinity, which may likely tointrude in the processing chamber 2 through the communicating channel11, thus resulting in contamination of the object 3. However, in theabove processing apparatus, since the fluid discharging port 9A isformed at the appropriate position of the communicating channel 11, thesupercritical carbon dioxide is discharged outside of the pressurevessel 1 through the communicating channel 11 and the fluid dischargingport 9A during the processing in the directions of arrows shown in FIG.2. Thus, the particles which have been generated around the shaft sealportion 7 are pushed back (kept from going upward) by the pressure ofthe flowing fluid or discharged outside of the pressure vessel 1. Thereis a possibility that particles may be generated due to malcontact orthe like which results from axial displacement of the shaft portion 5.Such particles can be discharged outside of the pressure vessel 1 alongwith the supercritical carbon dioxide flowing through the communicatingchannel 11 and the fluid discharging port 9A. Thus, this arrangementprevents particles generated around the shaft seal portion 7 fromintruding into the processing chamber 2.

[0040] After the processing onto the object 3 has been completed,feeding of the supercritical carbon dioxide into the processing chamber2 is suspended, and driving of the support member 4 is suspended. Afterit is confirmed that the supercritical carbon dioxide has beencompletely discharged, the pressure in the processing chamber 2 isreturned to the atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, the object 3 isunloaded from the pressure vessel 1 by the transporting means. In thisway, a series of processes are completed.

[0041] In the high-pressure processing apparatus, since supercriticalcarbon dioxide is allowed to flow over the object 3 by rotating theobject 3 (support member 4), the processing onto the object 3 can beefficiently and uniformly performed. Furthermore, since the rotarydriving member 6 for drivingly rotating the support member 4 is providedoutside of the processing chamber 2 in a disconnected state therefrom,metal contamination due to driving of the rotary driving member 6 can beprevented, which resultantly prevents intrusion of particles which havebeen generated around the shaft seal portion 7 into the processingchamber 2. This arrangement enables to prevent contamination of theobject 3 due to particle intrusion and the like.

[0042] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a second embodimentaccording to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.The arrangement of the second embodiment to a fourth embodiment isbasically the same as that of the first embodiment. Accordingly,elements in the second to the fourth embodiments that are identical tothose in the first embodiment are denoted at the same reference numeral,a description thereof is omitted herein, and parts of the second to thefourth embodiments which are different from the features of the firstembodiment are described in detail.

[0043] The high-pressure processing apparatus according to the secondembodiment is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, provided with a labyrinthstructure 12 at an appropriate position of a communicating channel 11and between a shaft seal portion 7 and a fluid discharging port 9A.

[0044] The labyrinth structure 12 is formed by arraying a plurality ofannular blocking plates in the axial direction of a shaft portion 5 atan equidistance and spaced apart one from another in such a manner thatthe blocking plates are protruding horizontally from a wall surface ofthe communicating channel 11 and from an outer circumferential surfaceof the shaft portion 5 vertically alternately.

[0045] According to the second embodiment, since the labyrinth structure12 is provided between the shaft seal portion 7 and the processingchamber 2, particles that have been generated around the shaft sealportion 7 are blocked from moving toward the processing chamber 2through the communicating channel 11. Accordingly, this arrangementenables to more effectively prevent intrusion of particles into theprocessing chamber 2.

[0046] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a third embodimentaccording to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0047] The high-pressure processing apparatus according to the thirdembodiment is formed with a fluid introducing channel 13 at anappropriate position of a communicating channel 11 and between a shaftseal portion 7 and a fluid discharging port 9A to draw supercriticalcarbon dioxide into the communicating channel 11.

[0048] According to the third embodiment, supercritical carbon dioxideis drawn from the introducing channel 13 into the communicating channel11, and is discharged outside of a pressure vessel 1 through the fluiddischarging port 9A. With this arrangement, particles that have beengenerated around the shaft seal portion 7 are discharged out of thepressure vessel 1 through the fluid discharging port 9A along with theflow of the supercritical carbon dioxide. Thus, intrusion of particlesinto a processing chamber 2 is prevented.

[0049] It should be appreciated that the fluid to be introduced to theintroducing channel 13 is not limited to the supercritical carbondioxide, and may include other fluid, e.g., inert gas such as argon gasand nitrogen gas.

[0050] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a fourth embodimentaccording to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0051] The high-pressure processing apparatus according to the fourthembodiment has an arrangement in which the features of the second andthird embodiments are combined. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,the apparatus is provided with a fluid introducing channel 13 at anappropriate position of a communicating channel 11 and between a shaftseal portion 7 and a fluid discharging port 9A to draw supercriticalcarbon dioxide or other fluid into the communicating channel 11, andlabyrinth structures 12A, 12B are provided between the shaft sealportion 7 and the introducing channel 13, and between the introducingchannel 13 and the fluid discharging port 9A, respectively.

[0052] According to the fourth embodiment, the labyrinth structures 12Aand 12B block particles and the like that have been generated around theshaft seal portion 7 from moving toward a processing chamber 2. Even ifsome of the particles have been intruded in the processing chamber 2,such particles are forcibly discharged outside of a pressure vessel 1through the fluid discharging port 9A along with the fluid flowingthrough the introducing channel 13 and the communicating channel 11.This arrangement enables to more securely prevent intrusion of particlesand the like into the processing chamber 2.

[0053] In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the labyrinthstructures 12A, 12B are provided between the shaft seal portion 7 andthe introducing channel 13, and between the introducing channel 13 andthe fluid discharging port 9A, respectively. As an altered form, merelyone of the labyrinth structures 12A and 12B may be provided.

[0054] In the first to the fourth embodiments, supercritical carbondioxide (CO₂) is used as a high-pressure fluid. Alternatively, in caseof washing, a chemical or the like may be dissolved in carbon dioxidefor mixture, or a chemical may be fed separately into the processingchamber 2.

[0055] In the case where a chemical or the like is mixed, it ispreferable to adopt the arrangement of the third embodiment or thefourth embodiment. More specifically, in the case where a chemical to bemixed with a high-pressure fluid has a property of corroding the shaftseal portion 7, the arrangement other than the arrangement of the thirdembodiment or the fourth embodiment may cause corrosion of the shaftseal portion 7 due to contact of the chemical with the shaft sealportion 7. In order to prevent such a drawback, it is required toperform a corrosion-resistive process such as applying acorrosion-resistive agent onto the shaft seal portion 7 and its vicinityif the arrangement other than the arrangement of the third embodiment orthe fourth embodiment is adopted. On the other hand, the arrangement ofthe third embodiment or the fourth embodiment enables to forciblydischarge a chemical out of the pressure vessel 1 through the fluiddischarging port 9A along with the fluid flowing through the introducingchannel 13 without the likelihood that the chemical reaches the shaftseal portion 7. Thus, this arrangement enables to effectively preventcorrosion of the shaft seal portion 7, and eliminates the requirementthat a corrosion-resistive agent be applied onto the shaft seal portion7 and/or its vicinity.

[0056] In the arrangements of the foregoing embodiments, the feedingport 8A of the fluid feeding means 8 is formed in the ceiling part ofthe pressure vessel 1 to feed supercritical carbon dioxide into theprocessing chamber 2 by way of the controlling member 10. Alternatively,the fluid feeding port 8A may be formed in a trunk part (side portion)of the pressure vessel 1 to feed supercritical carbon dioxide directlyinto the processing chamber 2.

[0057] In the foregoing embodiments, the support member 4 for rotatablysupporting the object 3 constitutes the agitating unit of the invention.Alternatively, the agitating unit may include an agitating wing foragitating the fluid in the processing chamber 2. In the alteredarrangement, it is preferable to integrally attach a wing or itsequivalent to the support member 4.

[0058] It is possible to function the discharging port 9A of the fluiddischarging means 9 as a main discharging port communicated outside ofthe processing chamber 2. Alternatively, it is possible to form a maindischarging port independently of the fluid discharging port 9A, whichis dedicatedly used for discharging particles, as shown in the drawings.

[0059] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a fifth embodimentaccording to the invention is described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0060] The high-pressure processing apparatus according to the fifthembodiment is so configured as to suitably perform a series of processesfrom a chemical treating process, a cleaning process, and to a dryingprocess in a single processing chamber of a pressure vessel. It shouldbe appreciated that elements in the fifth embodiment that are identicalto those in the first to the fourth embodiments are denoted at the samereference numeral, a description thereof is omitted herein, and parts ofthe fifth embodiment that are different from the features of the firstto the fourth embodiments are described in detail.

[0061] In the fifth embodiment, the following arrangement is providedregarding fluid feeding means 8 and fluid discharging means 9 forfeeding and discharging a high-pressure fluid (gas, liquid, subcriticalfluid, supercritical fluid), chemical feeding means 15 and chemicaldischarging means 16 for feeding and discharging a chemical,respectively.

[0062] Specifically, a pressure vessel 1 is integrally formed with avertically extending feeding hole 27 (channel) for feeding a corrosivefluid (hereinafter, referred to as “chemical”) into a processing chamber2, and a vertically extending chemical discharging hole 29 (channel) fordischarging the chemical out of the processing chamber 2. The pressurevessel 1 is further integrally formed with valve structural members 26,28 in such a manner that part of the valve structural members 26, 28 isprotruded out of the chemical feeding hole 27 and the chemicaldischarging hole 29, respectively into the processing chamber 2.

[0063] The valve structural member 26 (28) includes a poppet valve(mushroom valve), and is so constructed as to openably close thechemical feeding hole 27 (chemical discharging hole 29) as the valvestructural member 26 (28) reciprocates in the axial direction of thechemical feeding hole 27 (chemical discharging hole 29), namely, inupward and downward directions in FIG. 9. The chemical feeding port 27Ais formed generally at a center of axis of rotation of a support member4 as opposed thereto.

[0064] The chemical feeding hole 27 is communicated and connected to apiping member 30, which is communicated to liquid feeding pumps 31, 32via branch pipe members 31A, 32A, respectively. With this arrangement,different kinds of chemicals are suppliable to the chemical feeding hole27 through the piping member 30 by selectively actuating the liquidfeeding pumps 11 12 (sic).

[0065] The chemical discharging hole 29 is connected to a piping member33 for collecting the chemical after the processing (waste liquid). Aterminal end portion of the piping member 33 is exposed out of thepressure vessel 1, and is connected to a waste liquid collecting vessel34 for collecting the waste liquid.

[0066] To sum up the above, in the high-pressure processing apparatus ofthe fifth embodiment, the valve structural member 26, the chemicalfeeding hole 27, the piping member 30 including branch pipe members 31A,32A, and the pumps 31, 32 constitute the chemical feeding means 15, andthe valve structural member 28, the chemical discharging hole 29, andthe piping member 33 constitute the chemical discharging means 16.

[0067] The fluid feeding means 8 and the fluid discharging means 9 forfeeding and discharging the high-pressure fluid have basically the samearrangement as the chemical feeding means 15 and the chemicaldischarging means 16.

[0068] Specifically, the pressure vessel 1 is integrally formed with ahigh-pressure fluid feeding hole 21 (channel) and a high-pressure fluiddischarging hole 23 (channel) for feeding and discharging thehigh-pressure fluid (in this embodiment, supercritical carbon dioxide),independently of the chemical feeding hole 27 and the chemicaldischarging hole 29. The pressure vessel 1 is integrally formed withvalve structural members 20 and 22 in such a manner that part of thevalve structural members 20 and 22 is protruded out of the fluid feedinghole 21 and the fluid discharging hole 23 into the processing chamber 2,respectively. The valve structural member 20 (22) is so constructed asto openably close the fluid feeding hole 21 (fluid discharging hole 23)as the valve structural member 20 (22) reciprocates in the axialdirection of the fluid feeding hole 21 (fluid discharging hole 23). Afluid feeding line (not shown) for feeding a high-pressure fluid and afluid discharging line (not shown) for discharging the high-pressurefluid are respectively communicated with the fluid feeding hole 21 andthe fluid discharging hole 23.

[0069] More specifically, in the above high-pressure processingapparatus, the valve structural member 20, the fluid feeding hole 21,and the fluid feeding line constitute the high-pressure fluid feedingmeans 8, and the valve structural member 22, the fluid discharging hole23, and the fluid discharging line constitute the high-pressure fluiddischarging means 9.

[0070] The valve structural members 20, 22, 26, 28 integrally formed inthe pressure vessel 1 are each made of the same pressure-resistivematerial as the pressure vessel 1.

[0071] Further, wall surfaces of the processing chamber 2, innersurfaces of the holes 21, 23, 27, 29, and outer surfaces of the valvestructural members 20, 22, 26, 28 are coated with a corrosion-resistiveagent such as fluoroethylene resin in order to prevent corrosion by thechemical. Furthermore, the chemical feeding and discharging lines forfeeding and discharging the chemical, namely, the piping members 30,31A, 32A, 33 each include a resinous hose made of a corrosion-resistivematerial.

[0072] Next, processing operations of the high-pressure processingapparatus according to the fifth embodiment are described.

[0073] First, an object 3 is transported to the processing chamber 2 ofthe pressure vessel 1 by transporting means such as a handling robot,and is loaded on the support member 4.

[0074] Then, the processing chamber 2 is sealably closed, and the object3 is treated with a predetermined chemical under an atmospheric pressurewhile being supplied with the chemical onto the object 3 by activatingthe chemical feeding means 15 to feed the chemical into the processingchamber 2. Specifically, at this time, the valve structural member 26 isactivated to open the chemical feeding port 27A of the chemical feedinghole 27. In this state, the liquid feeding pumps 11, 12 (sic) are drivento feed the chemical into the processing chamber 2 through the pipingmember 30 and the chemical feeding hole 26. At this time, the fluidfeeding port 21A, the fluid discharging port 23A for feeding anddischarging the supercritical carbon dioxide, and the chemicaldischarging port 29A for discharging the chemical are closed by thevalve structural member 20, 22, 28, respectively.

[0075] When the chemical is supplied to the processing chamber 2, thechemical is supplied substantially in the middle of the surface of theobject 3 since the chemical feeding port 27A is located generally abovethe center of axis of rotation of the support member 4. At the time offeeding the chemical, as the support member 4 is rotated, the chemicaluniformly spreads over the entire surface of the object 3, thusperforming the chemical treatment (washing) efficiently and uniformly.

[0076] When the washing process is completed, the valve structuralmember 28 is actuated to open the chemical discharging port 29A fordischarging the chemical after the processing. Thereby, the chemicalafter the processing in the processing chamber 2 is drawn out of theprocessing chamber 2 through the chemical discharging hole 29, and iscollected in the waste liquid collecting vessel 34 through the pipingmember 33. It is preferable to partition the waste liquid collectingvessel 34 into several parts for collecting the chemicals, water,organic solvent, etc. individually.

[0077] As the waste liquid (chemical) is discharged from the processingchamber 2, the chemical feeding port 27A and the chemical dischargingport 29A are closed by actuation of the valve structural members 26 and28. Thereafter, the valve structural member 15 (sic) is actuated to openthe fluid feeding port 21A. Thereby, while feeding the supercriticalcarbon dioxide into the processing chamber 2, the temperature andpressure inside the processing chamber 2 are raised and kept in acertain temperature and pressure range.

[0078] In this way, as the supercritical carbon dioxide is fed to theprocessing chamber 2, the chemical, water, organic solvent, etc. thathave stayed on the object surface after the predetermined processing arewashed away by trapping and dissolution in the supercritical carbondioxide. Thus, the object 3 is dried in a desirable manner withoutcausing size reduction of the pores and grooves of the microstructure onthe object 3 and generation of cracks on the object surface. Since thesupport member 4 is rotated at the time of drying process, efficient anduniform drying process can be performed onto the object 3. Thesupercritical drying process may be performed in a sealed state of theprocessing chamber 2 by closing the fluid feeding port 21A uponverifying that a certain temperature and pressure has been establishedin the processing chamber 2. Alternatively, supercritical carbon dioxidemay be allowed to flow (circulated) in the processing chamber 2 in astate that both of the fluid feeding port 21A and the fluid dischargingport 23A are kept opened.

[0079] Upon completion of the drying process, the rotation of thesupport member 4 is suspended. Then, upon verifying that thesupercritical carbon dioxide has been completely discharged and thepressure inside the processing chamber 2 has returned to the atmosphericpressure, the object 3 is unloaded from the pressure vessel 1 by thetransporting means. Thus, a series of processes are completed.

[0080] According to the high-pressure processing apparatus in the fifthembodiment, a series of processes from the chemical treating process tothe drying process are performed in the single pressure vessel 1. Sincethe feeding and discharging of the chemical or its equivalent areperformed systematically as mentioned above, this arrangement isadvantageous in desirably performing the predetermined processes ontothe object 3 without a possibility of corrosion of parts due to contactwith the chemical.

[0081] Specifically, in the above high-pressure processing apparatus,the valve structural member 26 is provided in the chemical feeding hole27 integrally formed in the pressure vessel 1. The valve structuralmember 26 is actuated to open the chemical feeding port 27A. Thechemical feeding line (piping member 30 and the like) is connected tothe appropriate position of the chemical feeding hole 27. With thisarrangement, there is no likelihood that the pressurized state of theprocessing chamber 2 may adversely affect the chemical feeding line dueto the closing of the chemical feeding port 27A by the valve structuralmember 26. In other words, since the chemical feeding port 27A issecurely kept in a closed state during the drying process with thesupercritical carbon dioxide, there is no likelihood that the chemicalfeeding line is subjected to a pressurized state.

[0082] This arrangement does not necessitate designing of the apparatusconsidering that the chemical feeding line should be constructed rigidenough against a high pressure. Namely, it is possible to construct thechemical feeding line according to the specifications operable under anormal pressure (atmospheric pressure). It is possible to construct thechemical feeding line by a resinous hose or its equivalent made of acorrosion-resistive material. In other words, this arrangement enablesto provide an apparatus equipped with a chemical feeding line which hasa small diameter and long length while taking desirable measures againstcorrosion. Likewise, this arrangement enables to provide acorrosion-proof apparatus even if equipped with a chemical dischargingline (piping member 33, etc.) which has a small diameter and longlength.

[0083] With the above arrangement, particle generation due to corrosionof the chemical feeding and discharging lines can be effectivelyprevented. As a result, a series of processes from the chemical treatingprocess to the drying process onto the object 3 can be desirablyperformed in the single pressure vessel 1.

[0084] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, the chemicalfeeding and discharging lines are each made of a resinous hose having acorrosion-resistive property. Alternatively, other measures againstcorrosion may be applicable to the chemical feeding and discharginglines. In any case, the chemical feeding and discharging lines can bedesigned according to the specifications operable under a normalpressure. This arrangement enables to apply a highly specificcorrosion-resistive agent or the like which is generally inappropriatefor use under a high pressure considering the durability of the pipingmembers and the like, as the measures against corrosion.

[0085] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a sixth embodimentof the invention is described with reference to FIG. 10. It should beappreciated that elements in the sixth embodiment that are identical tothose in the fifth embodiment are denoted at the same reference numeral,a description thereof is omitted herein, and parts of the sixthembodiment that are different from the features of the fifth embodimentare described in detail.

[0086] In the sixth embodiment, chemical feeding means 15 also functionsas means for feeding supercritical carbon dioxide in place of thearrangement in the fifth embodiment in which the fluid feeding means 8is dedicatedly used for feeding supercritical carbon dioxide.Specifically, a fluid feeding channel 17 is formed in the center (axialcenter) of a valve structural member 26 constituting the chemicalfeeding means 15 to feed supercritical carbon dioxide therethrough. Thefluid feeding channel 17 includes a fluid feeding port 17A opened from alower end portion of the valve structural member 26. A fluid feedingline (not shown) for feeding supercritical carbon dioxide iscommunicated to the fluid feeding channel 17.

[0087] A processing chamber 2 further includes a reservoir section 40formed underneath the fluid feeding port 17A and a chemical feeding port27A to temporarily store the chemical therein and feed the chemical ontoan object 3. The reservoir section 40 has a so-called showerheadstructure formed with a multitude of pores on a surface thereof.

[0088] In the sixth embodiment, upon verifying that a fluid dischargingport 23A and a chemical discharging port 29A are closed, the valvestructural member 26 is activated to open the chemical feeding port 27A,thereby feeding a certain amount of the chemical in the reservoirsection 40 for temporary storage. Thereafter, the chemical feeding port27A is closed, and supercritical carbon dioxide is started to feed intothe reservoir section 40 through the fluid feeding channel 17 of thevalve structural member 26.

[0089] Thereby, the chemical that has been temporarily stored in thereservoir section 40 is mixed with the supercritical carbon dioxide, andthe mixed solution is fed onto an object 3 loaded on a support member 4in a shower through the multitude of pores formed in the reservoirsection 40, thereby performing a predetermined process (washing). Atthis time, the support member 4 is rotated according to needs. Thus, thechemical uniformly spreads over the entire surface of the object 3,thereby performing efficient and uniform chemical treatment.

[0090] When the washing is completed, the chemical discharging port 29Ais opened to collect the chemical staying in the processing chamber 2 toa waste liquid collecting vessel 34 through a chemical discharging hole29.

[0091] When the waste liquid (chemical) in the processing chamber 2 isstarted to be discharged through the chemical discharging hole 29,supercritical carbon dioxide is started to be fed into the processingchamber 2 through the fluid feeding port 17A. Thereby, a drying processonto the object 3 is performed in the similar manner as the fifthembodiment. At this time, the support member 4 is rotated according toneeds. Thus, efficient and uniform drying process is performed onto theobject 3.

[0092] According to the sixth embodiment, since the object 3 is washedwith the mixed solution of supercritical carbon dioxide and a chemical,the chemical reaches deep inside the micropores and grooves formed inthe object surface, thereby performing the washing process moreefficiently.

[0093] In the high-pressure processing apparatus, waste liquid (mixtureof chemical and supercritical carbon dioxide) that has been used in thewashing process is collected to the waste liquid collecting vessel 14(sic) through the chemical discharging hole 29, a piping member 33, etc.As an exemplified arrangement, a pressure-reducing valve or apressure-regulating valve (not shown) is provided at an upstream side ofthe waste liquid collecting vessel 34 to collect the waste liquid intothe waste liquid collecting vessel 34 with its temperature and pressuremaintained at a certain level. In such a case, the waste liquidcollecting vessel 34 may function as a high-pressure vessel. In view ofthis, the temperature and pressure to be monitored in the waste liquidcollecting vessel 34 are determined depending on the kind of chemical tobe used, and the waste liquid is separated into the supercritical carbondioxide and the chemical in the waste liquid collecting vessel 34.

[0094] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, supercriticalcarbon dioxide is fed through the fluid feeding channel 17 formed in thevalve structural member 26. Since the fluid feeding port 17A is kept inan opened state, it is preferable to take measures against corrosion dueto contact with a chemical by coating, e.g., a corrosion-resistive agentsuch as fluoroethylene resin onto the inner surface of the fluid feedingchannel 17. In such a case, it is more effective to allow carbon dioxidein a normal pressure or the like to flow in the fluid feeding channel 17during the feeding of the chemical because such an arrangement enablesto prevent intrusion of the chemical into the fluid feeding channel 17,which provides a more advantageous measures against corrosion.

[0095] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as a seventhembodiment according to the invention is described with reference toFIG. 11.

[0096] The seventh embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment inthe arrangement of fluid feeding means 8, chemical feeding means 15,fluid discharging means 9, and chemical discharging means 16.

[0097] Specifically, in the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, avalve structural member 28 for openably closing a chemical dischargingport 29A includes a support rod (valve rod) 28 a on which a metallicdiaphragm 28 b is mounted. Fixedly mounting the diaphragm 28 b on a wallsurface of a pressure vessel 1 fixedly supports the valve structuralmember 28 on the pressure vessel 1. The diaphragm 28 b and the wallsurface of the pressure vessel 1 define a chemical discharging hole 29.

[0098] Similar to the valve structural member 28, a valve structuralmember 22 for openably closing a fluid discharging port 23A includes asupport rod (valve rod) 22 a on which a diaphragm 22 b is mounted.Fixedly mounting the diaphragm 22 b on a wall surface of the pressurevessel 1 fixedly supports the valve structural member 22 on the pressurevessel 1. The diaphragm 22 b and the wall surface of the pressure vessel1 define a fluid discharging hole 23.

[0099] Although not illustrated, the fluid feeding means 8 and thechemical feeding means 15 have basically the same construction as thefluid discharging means 9 and the chemical discharging means 16.

[0100] According to the seventh embodiment, the valve structural member28 is easily mounted on the pressure vessel 1, and the chemicaldischarging hole 29 is easily connected to a piping member 33 e forcommunication. This is advantageous in assembling of the parts.

[0101] The portion indicated by the sandblasted portion in FIG. 11(portion indicated by the numeral 40) is made of a corrosion-resistivematerial. Likewise, the wall surfaces of the processing chamber 2, thesurfaces of a support shaft portion 5 and a support member 4, thesurfaces of the valve structural members 22, 28 and the diaphragm 28 b(indication of sandblasted portion is omitted), and the inner surface ofthe piping member 33 are coated with a corrosion-resistive agent.

[0102] Next, a high-pressure processing apparatus as an eighthembodiment according to the invention is described with reference toFIG. 12.

[0103] The eighth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment inthe aspect of fluid feeding means 8, chemical feeding means 15, fluiddischarging means 9, and chemical discharging means 16.

[0104] Specifically, in the eighth embodiment, a head portion 26 a of avalve structural member 26 for openably closing a chemical feeding port27A is provided in a conical large-diametrical channel 27B formed in anappropriate portion of a chemical feeding channel 27. The head portion26 a of the valve structural member 26 is arranged in a pressure vessel1 (inside of a wall constituting a processing chamber 2) in such amanner that the chemical feeding port 27A is openably closed by movingthe valve structural member 26 downward from the opposite side of thepressure vessel 1 where the processing chamber 2 is formed (from theupper side in FIG. 12).

[0105] The head portion (valve portion) 26 a of the valve structuralmember 26 has a lead end thereof formed into a substantially conicalshape. The conical channel 27B also has a substantially conical shapecorresponding to the head portion 26 a with a lead end thereof taperedtoward the chemical feeding port 27A.

[0106] According to the eighth embodiment, as the valve structuralmember 26 is lowered, and the head portion 26 a is abutted against thelower surface of the conical channel 27B, namely, the lower surface ofthe substantially conical portion thereof, the chemical feeding port 27Ais closed, thereby suspending feeding of the chemical.

[0107] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the valve structuralmember 26 is raised, and the head portion 26 a is moved away from thelower surface of the conical channel 27B, the chemical feeding port 27Ais opened to thereby allow the chemical to be fed into the processingchamber 2. At this time, when the chemical is drawn into the chemicalfeeding port 27A whose diameter is smaller than the conical channel 27B,the flowing rate of the chemical is increased. As a result, the chemicalis supplied into the processing chamber 2 at the increased flowing rate.Thus, the chemical is securely supplied onto the object 3.

[0108] In the fifth to the eighth embodiments, as mentioned above, theobject 3 (support member 4) is rotated according to needs during theprocessing. This arrangement enables to perform efficient and uniformprocessing onto the object 3. In view of this, it is preferable toprovide a sealing member 5A as shown in FIG. 11 between the shaftportion 5 and the pressure vessel 1 for sealing. Providing the sealingmember 5A in one of the arrangements of the first to the fourthembodiments enables to effectively prevent intrusion of particles intothe processing chamber 2.

[0109] In the first to the eighth embodiments, supercritical carbondioxide is used in the drying process. The fluid is not necessarilysupercritical carbon dioxide. A high-pressure fluid having a pressure ofe.g. 1 MPa or more, preferably, a high-pressure fluid having highdensity, high solubility, low viscosity, and high diffusiveness may beused. As a further altered arrangement, a subcritical fluid may be usedin place of the supercritical fluid.

[0110] In the first to the eighth embodiments, described is the casewhere a single object 3 is loaded on the support member 4. Theprocessing apparatus may be so configured as to be capable of loading aplurality of objects 3 on the support member 4.

[0111] In the fifth to the eighth embodiments, described is the casewhere washing and drying processes are performed. The chemical treatingprocess onto the object 3 is not limited to washing. For example, adeveloper, which is an alkali aqueous solution, may be used as achemical and fed onto an object (e.g. semiconductor wafer) to performdevelopment with respect to a photoresist layer. Then, after thedevelopment, washing and drying processes may be performed with use ofsupercritical carbon dioxide.

[0112] In the above case, washing process for the purpose of removingthe residue of the developer may be performed under an atmosphericpressure in the similar manner as the foregoing embodiments (fifth toeighth embodiments). In other words, after the development with use of acorrosive chemical, washing and drying processes may be performed withuse of a non-corrosive chemical, supercritical carbon dioxide, etc. Thisaltered arrangement is described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.Specifically, an object (semiconductor wafer) 3 is loaded on the supportmember 4, and development is carried out under an atmospheric pressurewith a chemical such as an organic alkali aqueous solution or a thinnerbeing fed and discharged by actuation of the chemical feeding means 15and the chemical discharging means 16, respectively. Thereafter, anon-corrosive chemical such as mixed fluid of water or isopropylalcoholwith supercritical carbon dioxide is fed to and discharged from theprocessing chamber 2 by the high-pressure fluid feeding means 15 and thehigh-pressure fluid discharging means 16 respectively to perform washingand drying processes under a high pressure.

[0113] To sum up the invention, according to an aspect of the invention,the high-pressure processing apparatus comprises: a processing vesselwhich is formed with a processing chamber therein to perform a certainprocess onto an object; fluid feeding means which feeds a high-pressurefluid into the processing chamber; fluid discharging means whichdischarges the high-pressure fluid from the processing chamber; anagitating unit which is arranged in the processing chamber and isoperative to flow the high-pressure fluid onto the object by relativerotation to the processing vessel; a communicating channel which isformed in the processing vessel to communicate inside and outside of theprocessing chamber; a rotary driving member which is coupled to theagitating unit via a shaft portion provided in the communicatingchannel; and a sealing portion which is provided between the shaftportion and the processing vessel to disconnect the processing chamberfrom the rotary driving member. The fluid discharging means includes afluid discharging port formed in a certain position of the communicatingchannel closer to the processing chamber than the sealing portion todischarge the high-pressure fluid.

[0114] With this arrangement, drivingly rotating the agitating unitenables to perform efficient and uniform processing onto the object.Furthermore, since the high-pressure fluid flows through thecommunicating channel and is discharged out of the processing chamberthrough the fluid discharging port during the processing, particles thathave been generated around the sealing portion can be discharged outsideof the apparatus along with the high-pressure fluid. This arrangementenables to perform the processing onto the object such as asemiconductor wafer optimally without the likelihood that the particlesgenerated around the sealing portion may be intruded in the processingchamber.

[0115] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, the agitatingunit may include a support member on which the object is supported inthe processing chamber.

[0116] In the above arrangement, the support member and the objectsupported thereon are integrally rotated during the processing. Thereby,efficient and uniform processing can be performed onto the object withthe high-pressure fluid being allowed to spread desirably onto theobject.

[0117] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, it is preferableto provide a labyrinth structure at a certain position of thecommunicating channel and between the sealing portion and the fluiddischarging port.

[0118] With the above arrangement, since the labyrinth structure isprovided in the communicating channel and between the processing chamberand the sealing portion, it is less likely that particles generatedaround the sealing portion be moved toward the processing chamberthrough the communicating channel 11. Thereby, intrusion of particlesinto the processing chamber can be more effectively prevented.

[0119] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, it is preferableto form a fluid introducing channel in a certain position of thecommunicating channel and between the sealing portion and the fluiddischarging port to draw a fluid identical to or different from thehigh-pressure fluid into the communicating channel, wherein the fluidintroducing channel is so constructed as to discharge the fluid that hasbeen introduced from the fluid introducing channel outside of theprocessing vessel through the fluid discharging port.

[0120] With this arrangement, the fluid is drawn into the communicatingchannel through the fluid introducing channel and is discharged out ofthe processing chamber through the fluid discharging port. Thereby,particles generated around the sealing portion are discharged out of thefluid discharging port along with the flow of the fluid. Thisarrangement effectively prevents intrusion of the particles into theprocessing chamber.

[0121] In the above case, it is preferable to provide a labyrinthstructure at a certain position of the communicating channel and betweenthe sealing portion and the fluid introducing channel and/or between thefluid introducing channel and the fluid discharging port.

[0122] With the above arrangement, intrusion of particles into theprocessing chamber can be more effectively prevented.

[0123] According to another aspect of the invention, the high-pressureprocessing apparatus comprises: a processing vessel formed with aprocessing chamber therein; a support member which supports an objectloaded in the processing chamber thereon; fluid feeding(dischargingmeans which feeds and discharges a high-pressure fluid in and out of theprocessing chamber; a communicating channel which is formed in theprocessing vessel to communicate with the processing chamber; a valvestructural member which is operatively supported to the processingvessel in the communicating channel to openably close the communicatingchannel; and a piping member which is communicated and connected to thecommunicating channel for feeding and/or discharging a corrosive fluidin and out of the processing chamber. The corrosive fluid is differentfrom the high-pressure fluid.

[0124] With this arrangement, a poppet valve can be used as the valvestructural member. In such an arrangement, fluoroethylene resin,ceramics and the like can be coated on the valve structural member.

[0125] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, the pipingmember can be so constructed as to be usable under an atmosphericpressure.

[0126] In the above arrangement, while the communicating channel isclosed during the processing with the high-pressure fluid, there is nolikelihood that the piping member for feeding the corrosive fluid may beaffected by the high pressure. Accordingly, the above arrangement makesit possible to use a material, which is technically inappropriate foruse as a piping member under a high pressure, e.g., a resinous hosehaving corrosion resistance, as such a piping member. This isadvantageous in taking measures against corrosion. With thisarrangement, there can be prevented the problem in advance thatparticles may be generated due to corrosion of the piping member andintruded in the processing chamber, which resultantly leads tocontamination of the object.

[0127] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, preferably, thefluid feeding/discharging means includes a fluid feeding channel whichis formed in the processing vessel to communicate with the processingchamber, a valve structural member which is operatively supported to theprocessing vessel in the fluid feeding channel to openably close thefluid feeding channel, and a piping member which is communicated andconnected to the fluid feeding channel to feed and/or discharge thehigh-pressure fluid in and out of the processing vessel.

[0128] In the above arrangement where the fluid feeding/dischargingmeans for feeding/discharging the high-pressure fluid has generally thesame construction as the feeding/discharging means forfeeding/discharging a corrosive fluid, the valve structural member ofthe fluid feeding/discharging means can adopt a poppet valve. Thereby,it is possible to coat fluoroethylene resin, ceramics, and the like onthe valve structural member of the fluid feeding/discharging means.

[0129] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, it is preferableto form a fluid feeding hole in the valve structural member to feed thehigh-pressure fluid into the processing chamber.

[0130] With this arrangement, the valve structural member for feeding acorrosive fluid can be optimally incorporated in the fluid feedingmeans. Particularly, this arrangement is advantageous in feeding thecorrosive fluid and the high-pressure fluid in a mixed state (in adissolved state).

[0131] In the above high-pressure processing apparatus, it is preferableto provide a reservoir section in the processing chamber for temporarilystoring a corrosive fluid to feed the corrosive fluid onto the object.Further, preferably, the fluid feeding means is so constructed as tofeed the high-pressure fluid into the reservoir section.

[0132] With the above arrangement, it is possible to feed the corrosivefluid and the high-pressure fluid onto the object in a mixed (dissolved)state.

[0133] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a high-pressureprocessing method comprises the steps in the order of feeding acorrosive fluid in a processing chamber of a pressure vessel; washing anobject supportively loaded in the processing chamber with the corrosivefluid under an atmospheric pressure; discharging the corrosive fluid outof the processing chamber; and feeding a high-pressure fluid into theprocessing chamber to dry the object.

[0134] In this arrangement, after being washed under the atmosphericpressure in the processing chamber, the object is dried in theprocessing chamber with the high-pressure fluid. Thus, the processingoperations onto the object can be performed in the single processingchamber.

[0135] According to still another aspect of the invention, ahigh-pressure processing method comprises the steps in the order offeeding a corrosive fluid in a processing chamber of a pressure vessel;applying a developer onto an object supportively loaded in theprocessing chamber under an atmospheric pressure for development;discharging the corrosive fluid out of the processing chamber; andfeeding a high-pressure fluid into the processing chamber to wash anddry the object.

[0136] In the above arrangement, after being applied with the developerin the processing chamber under the atmospheric pressure, the object isdried in the processing chamber with the high-pressure fluid. Thus, theprocessing operations onto the object can be performed in the singleprocessing chamber.

[0137] This application is based on Japanese patent application serialNos. 2001-128276 and 2001-133003 filed in Japan Patent Office, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

[0138] Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that various changes and modifications will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes andmodifications depart from the scope of the present invention hereinafterdefined, they should be construed as being included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A high-pressure processing apparatus comprising:a processing vessel including a processing chamber formed therein toperform a certain process onto an object in the processing chamber;fluid feeding means which feeds a high-pressure fluid into theprocessing chamber; fluid discharging means which discharges thehigh-pressure fluid from the processing chamber; an agitating unit whichis arranged in the processing chamber and is operative to flow thehigh-pressure fluid over the object by relative rotation to theprocessing vessel; a communicating channel which is formed in theprocessing vessel to communicate inside and outside of the processingchamber; a rotary driving member which is coupled to the agitating unitvia a shaft portion provided in the communicating channel; and a sealingportion which is provided between the shaft portion and the processingvessel to disconnect the processing chamber from the rotary drivingmember, the fluid discharging means including a fluid discharging portformed in a certain position of the communicating channel closer to theprocessing chamber than the sealing portion to discharge thehigh-pressure fluid.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a labyrinth structure which is provided at a certain positionof the communicating channel and between the sealing portion and thefluid discharging port.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a fluid introducing channel which is formed in a certainposition of the communicating channel and between the sealing portionand the fluid discharging port to draw a fluid identical to or differentfrom the high-pressure fluid into the communicating channel, the fluidintroducing channel being so constructed as to discharge the fluid thathas been introduced from the fluid introducing channel outside of theprocessing vessel through the fluid discharging port.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the agitating unit includes a supportmember on which the object is supported in the processing chamber. 5.The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a labyrinthstructure which is provided at a certain position of the communicatingchannel and between the sealing portion and the fluid discharging port.6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a fluidintroducing channel which is formed in a certain position of thecommunicating channel and between the sealing portion and the fluiddischarging port to draw a fluid identical to or different from thehigh-pressure fluid into the communicating channel, the fluidintroducing channel being so configured as to discharge the fluid thathas been introduced from the fluid introducing channel outside of theprocessing vessel through the fluid discharging port.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 6, further comprising a labyrinth structure which isformed at a certain position of the communicating channel and betweenthe sealing portion and the fluid introducing channel and/or between thefluid introducing channel and the fluid discharging port.
 8. Ahigh-pressure processing apparatus comprising: a processing vesselincluding a processing chamber formed therein; a support member whichsupports an object loaded in the processing chamber thereon; fluidfeeding/discharging means which feeds and discharges a high-pressurefluid in and out of the processing chamber; a communicating channelwhich is formed in the processing vessel to communicate with theprocessing chamber; a valve structural member which is operativelysupported to the processing vessel in the communicating channel toopenably close the communicating channel; and a piping member which iscommunicated and connected to the communicating channel for feedingand/or discharging a corrosive fluid in and out of the processingchamber, the corrosive fluid being different from the high-pressurefluid.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the piping memberis so constructed as to be usable under an atmospheric pressure.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fluid feeding means includesa fluid feeding channel which is formed in the processing vessel tocommunicate with the processing chamber, a valve structural member whichis operatively supported to the processing vessel in the fluid feedingchannel to openably close the fluid feeding channel, and a piping memberwhich is communicated and connected to the fluid feeding channel to feedand/or discharge the high-pressure fluid in and out of the processingvessel.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising afluid feeding hole which is formed in the valve structural member tofeed the high-pressure fluid into the processing chamber.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processing chamber includesa reservoir section which temporarily stores a corrosive fluid thereinto feed the corrosive fluid onto the object, the fluid feeding means isso constructed as to feed the high-pressure fluid into the reservoirsection.
 13. A high-pressure processing method comprising the steps of:feeding a corrosive fluid into a processing chamber of a pressurevessel; washing an object supportively loaded in the processing chamberwith the corrosive fluid under an atmospheric pressure; discharging thecorrosive fluid out of the processing chamber; and feeding ahigh-pressure fluid into the processing chamber to dry the object.
 14. Ahigh-pressure processing method comprising the steps of: feeding acorrosive fluid into processing chamber of a pressure vessel; apply adeveloper onto an object supportively loaded in the processing chamberunder an atmospheric pressure for development; discharging the corrosivefluid out of the processing chamber; and feeding a high-pressure fluidinto the processing chamber to wash and dry the object.